Student in custody, accused of bringing gun and ammo to Centralia High School

by Dan Claxton

One teenager is in custody in Centralia after carrying a gun and ammunition in his backpack to school. (Elizabeth Hoffman/KRCG 13)

CENTRALIA —

Authorities took a juvenile into custody Friday in Centralia after he was detained on suspicion of bringing a gun and ammunition to the high school.

According to Centralia School Superintendent Darin Ford, at about 8 a.m. Friday, Centralia High School administration took the handgun and ammunition from the backpack of a 15-year-old student who was entering the building.

The student was taken into custody by the Centralia Police Department without incident.

According to school officials, the information that the student was armed came from other students. This information led to the questioning, search, and confiscation of the items.

Further investigation revealed that the handgun was stolen from a residence in Audrain County, according to Centralia Chief of Police Larry Dudgeon. The Audrain County Sheriff's Department will investigate the gun theft, according to Dudgeon.

Centralia Police, Boone County Juvenile authorities and the school district are all involved in the investigation.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include more information on the specifics of the arrest.